Machine readable label and sample identification system utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

An improved label for containers and the like is provided. The label includes an undersheet having a surface of electrically conductive material and an oversheet of insulating material adapted to overlie the undersheet. The oversheet includes a plurality of holes punched therein in a pattern indicative, in a prearranged code, of the contents of the container. A method of identifying specimens is also provided wherein the hole pattern in the oversheet of one container is reproduced on a sheet of insulating material which is then used as an oversheet for the label of subsequent containers which are to be filled from the sample container.

United States Patent Holderith Feb. 22, 1972 [54] MACHINE READABLELABELAND SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME [21] Appl. No.:859,919

US. Cl. ..235/61.ll A, 23/253, 235/61.l2 R

235/61.1l1, 61.11 R; 340/l46.3 RR; 234/30; 250/219 D; 73/53; 23/230,253; 139/333 ..G0ln Iii/00,6061: 19/02 FieldoISearch..235/6l.12,6l.l2C,61.78,

3,266,298 8/1966 Whitehead... ..73/53 3,327,098 6/1967 Riggin 340/ 146.3RR 3,405,256 10/1968 Weber... ..235/6l.l2 3,414,731 12/1968 Sperry..253/2l9 3,482,082 12/1969 lsreeli 235/61 l 2 2,007,883 7/1935Spahn.... ..139/333 Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur AssistantExaminerRobert M. Kilgore Alt0rneyl(ane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan andKurucz 57 ABSTRACT An improved label for containers and the like isprovided. The label includes an undersheet having a surface ofelectrically conductive material and an oversheet of insulating materialadapted to overlie the undersheet. The oversheet includes a plurality ofholes punched therein in a pattern indicative, in a prearranged code, ofthe contents of the container. A method of identifying specimens is alsoprovided wherein the hole pattern in the oversheet of one container isreproduced on a sheet of insulating material which is then used as anoversheet for the label of subsequent containers which are to be filledfrom the sample container.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures QPRE 762 PATENTEBFEB22 I972 3,644,715

INVENTOR w/umu J. Howemn/ ATTORN EYS MACHINE READABLE LABEL AND SAMPLEIDENTIFICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Inthe collection of blood for laboratory purposes, the first step isusually the filling out of a request by the attending physicianspecifying patient and tests required. The technologist who is tocollect the blood assembles .a number of request forms and a sufficientnumber of collecting vessels and goes to the bedside of the variouspatients to obtain the necessary specimens. It is common practice, atthe time of drawing, to establish the identity of the sample by affixinga paper label to the tube into which the blood will be drawn, andwriting on the label the patients name. When the blood is taken to thelaboratory a list is made of all the tubes received and each tube isassigned a number, usually called an accession number. The list, inaddition to the accession number, often includes the patients name and adescription of the tests to be performed.

After the initial entries have been made on the accession list the bloodsamples are sorted into groups of like tests such as hematology andchemistry and the contained samples are each divided into two or morealiquots as required to perform the various tests. Eachaliquot-containing tube is commonly labeled with a paper label ontowhich is copied all or part of the information on the primary orcollection tube label. When all the tubes have been prepared foranalysis and every sample division has taken place the tubes are takento the site of analysis where the desired tests are performed. Theresults are then placed on the accession list and reported back to thephysician.

If the test is being made on an automatic machine, it is common practiceto add to the accession list the position of the tube in the rack orcircular tray that is used in the test machine. As the automatic testinginstrument begins to operate, the sample which has been placed in thenumber one position is tested first and the results of that test arereported out first; the second sample is tested second and reported outsecond, and so on, until each sample is read and the results reportedout. The reporting may be in the form of printed numbers on a continuoussheet, a continuous curve on a strip chart, holes in a punch card ortape, or other means. The test results, reported in order of trayposition, are then correlated with the accession number list containingthe patients name and the results are reported to the physician.

It is obvious from the above brief description that a great many sourcesof error exist in the usual handling and identification procedure. Thesemay be due to possible misidentification of the blood sample with thepatient from whom it was drawn, error in the numerous manualtranscriptions of number-name data involved or, in the case of anautomatic testing instrument, to the danger of transposing samples inthe test machine tray when they are identified only by position.

Attempts have been made to alleviate the problem such as by preprintinga supply of labels so that manual preparation is not necessary. However,there is still a major source for error since the number of tubes to bedrawn is not standard from patient to patient or from time to time forthe same patient. Thus there is the possibility that too few or too manypreprinted labels may be provided. In the former case, it may benecessary to prepare extra labels manually with the consequent danger ofmanual transcription error. In the latter case, the excess labels may beimproperly used if care is not exercised to see that they are destroyed.The above problems are well known to persons familiar with clinicallaboratory practice.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a simple and convenient label for a sample container and anefficient and accurate method for automatically reproducing identicallyas many, and only as many additional labels as required for samplesubdivisions or additions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects and advantages areattained in accordance with the present invention by providing a labelcomprising an undersheet having an electrically conductive outer surfaceand an oversheet, having a plurality of holes punched thereon in aprearranged pattern adapted to be aligned over and affixed to theconductive surface of the undersheet. A method of sample identificationis also provided wherein a master sample is collected in a containerhaving affixed thereto an undersheet having an outer surface of anelectrically conductive material. An oversheet provided with a pluralityof holes punched therein in a pattern indicative, in some prearrangedcode, of the sample is affixed to the container overlying theundersheet. The oversheet is affixed to the container at the time offilling the container. Thereafter, as required for subsequentprocessing, the contents of the master sample container is divided outinto additional containers, each of which has affixed thereto anundersheet with an electrically conductive outer surface and theoversheet is automatically reproduced in total or in part to form anoversheet for placement over the undersheet of the additionalcontainers, thus enabling the technician to maintain a constantreference of each container to the original source of the containercontents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container in the form of a test tubeprovided with a label in accordance with the present invention, whereinthe oversheet is partially removed to expose the electrically conductiveoutersurface of the undersheet;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the method and means forinterpreting and reproducing such a label; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along reference lines 33 of FIG. 1 inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar components bearthe same reference numeral throughout the several views. Reference isnow made to FIG. 1 in particular wherein a container 10 in the form of aglass test tube 10 is depicted provided with a label 12. Label 12comprises a laminate structure including an undersheet 14 which is agenerally flat member having an electrically conductive outer surfaceand an oversheet 16 formed of an insulatin'g material which is alsogenerally flat. In a successful practice of the invention, undersheet 14was a metallic foil and oversheet l6 consisted of paper.

Oversheet 16 is provided with a plurality of holes 18 punched into it ina manner similar to the coding of a I-Iollerith card. In assembling thelabel 12 the undersheet 14 is first securely affixed to test tube 10.The holes are then punched in oversheet 16, in the desired codepositions, and the oversheet is positioned over the undersheet. Tosimplify the securement of the oversheet to the undersheet, one surfaceof the oversheet is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

In the illustrated embodiment of the label shown in FIG. 2, the label isprovided with five rows (left to right) of five columns (top to bottom)of positions where holes can be punched. Row (a) has all five holesalways punched and serves as a common return lead. Rows (b), (c), (d)and (e) have holes punched in their respective columns in such positionas to manifest, by an agreed-upon code a five-digit number between 00001and 99999. Five digits are used here only as illustrative. In practicethe number of digits is only limited by the size of the holes and thesize of the label.

One such code, now in common use, is the so-called quater nary codeillustrated as follows:

Position Code In such a code each four-digit vertical matrix representsone digit. If a hole is punched in the matrix at position (b) only, thedigit 1 is represented. If a hole is punched in position (c), the digit2 is represented. A combination of positions (b) and (c) represents thedigit 3" and so on. Thus it can be seen that any digit from to 9 can berepresented by a combination of none, one or more than one hole punchedin the matrix at a given position. Furthermore, if more than one suchcolumn matrix be employed more than one digit in a row may berepresented. Referring again to the illustrated label of FIG. 2 it canbe appreciated that the number represented is 16,290.

FIG. 2 also schematically illustrates a reading device consisting offive brushes, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, of wire or other suitable materialwhich are so arranged that if a label 12 is passed under them from rightto left, each brush describes a path across one row of hole positions.The first row, row (a), always being punched, allows the establishmentof electrical contact between brush 22 and the conductive undersheet 14in the case of every column that passes underneath. Rows (b), (c), (d)and (e) are only punched as desired so that brushes 24, 26, 28 and 30make electrical contact selectively as the brushes pass over the label.In those cases where one or more of the brushes make contact with theundersheet 14, one or more circuits between the common brush 22 andsensing brushes will be completed per column, manifesting a patternwhich can be interpreted to represent a five-digit number. Readingdevice 20, in addition to interpreting label 12, may include a readout32 for translating the label code to written numbers and a punching anddispensing device 34 which is controlled by the signals from the brushesto reproduce the hole pattern in label 12 in a paper strip 36 whichcomprises the output of the punching and dispensing device 34. The paperstrip 36 may be used as the oversheet for a specimen container. Suchinterpreting and punching devices are well defined and well knownparticularly by those familiar with the art of computer componentdesign.

If a container which has affixed to it a decoded laminate label asdescribed above in accordance with the present invention were to berotated about a sensing device as described above, or if the sensingdevice were to be rotated about the container, a pattern of temporaryelectrical connections, or signals would be generated that could be usedto signal the punching device 34 to punch sheet 36 from a storedunpunched roll. Sheet 36 would therefore be a duplicate of the oversheetportion 16 of the original laminate label 12 being read." Thus, by usinga container provided with a label as described above for a master samplevessel together with a device as described above to read such a labeland punch a similar hole pattern in a sheet to be used as an oversheetfor a specimen container (which has affixed thereto a conductiveundersheet) the information contained on the master sample label couldbe reproduced without introducing the human error inherent in manualtranscription. In other words, such a label could be used to produceexact copies of its hole pattern in strips of paper which could then beapplied over the electrically conducting undersheet of tubes into whichportions of the original had been placed.

Thus, by collecting the original sample in a container having anelectrically conductive underlabel affixed thereto, placing an overlabelhaving a plurality of holes therein in a pattern indicative of thecontents of the container over the underlabel, placing specimens of thesample in containers provided with similar underlabels, reproducing theoverlabel hole pattern in a sheet for use as an overlabel for eachcontainer to carry specimens from the original sample, and affixing thesheet over the specimen underlabel, an automatic system of sampleidentification is provided wherein each specimen may be related to themaster sample from which it is taken.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: l. The methodof identifying multiple specimens representing portions ofa mastersample of a body fluid such as blood wherein examination of the fluid isindicative of the condition of the host and for correlating suchspecimens to the master sample comprising the steps of:

a. Collecting the master sample in a container having affixed thereto anunderlabel having an electrically conduc tive outer surface;

b. Punching a plurality of holes in an overlabel formed of insulatingmaterial indicating in a prearranged code the contents of said mastersample container;

. Affixing said overlabel to said master sample container overlying saidunderlabel;

d. Placing a specimen of said master sample into a specimen containerhaving affixed thereto an underlabel having an electrically conductiveouter surface;

e. Forming an overlabel from a label blank of electrically insulatingmaterial for said specimen container by automatically reproducing all orpart of the hole pattern of said sample container overlabel in saidblank; and,

f. Affixing said specimen container overlabel over said specimencontainer underlabel.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said samplecontainer overlabel holes are disposed in discrete positions alongaligned rows and columns and said specimen container overlabel formingstep comprises the substeps of:

a. automatically reading said master sample vessel label by bushing saidmaster sample label parallel to said rows with a plurality of bushesaligned with said columns, said bushes being adapted to generateelectrical signals in response to each hole in said master sample label;and

b. simultaneously bushing said label blank with means adapted to formholes in said overlabel blank in response to said electrical signalswhereby to reproduce a pattern of holes in said label blank identical tothe hole pattern in said master sample label.

1. The method of identifying multiple specimens representing portions ofa master sample of a body fluid such as blood wherein examination of thefluid is indicative of the condition of the host and for correlatingsuch specimens to the master sample comprising the steps of: a.Collecting the master sample in a container having affixed thereto anunderlabel having an electrically conductive outer surface; b. Punchinga plurality of holes in an overlabel formed of insulating materialindicating in a prearranged code the contents of said master samplecontainer; c. Affixing said overlabel to said master sample containeroverlying said underlabel; d. Placing a specimen of said master sampleinto a specimen container having affixed thereto an underlabel having anelectrically conductive outer surface; e. Forming an overlabel from alabel blank of electrically insulating material for said specimencontainer by automatically reproducing all or part of the hole patternof said sample container overlabel in said blank; and, f. Affixing saidspecimen container overlabel over said specimen container underlabel. 2.The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sample containeroverlabel holes are disposed in discrete positions along aligned rowsand columns and said specimen container overlabel forming step comprisesthe substeps of: a. automatically ''''reading'''' said master samplevessel label by bushing said master sample label parallel to said rowswith a plurality of bushes aligned with said columns, said bushes beingadapted to generate electrical signals in response to each hole in saidmaster sample label; and b. simultaneously bushing said label blank withmeans adapted to form holes in said overlabel blank in response to saidelectrical signals whereby to reproduce a pattern of holes in said labelblank identical to the hole pattern in said master sample label.